Devon Cricket Board - Lady Taverners U15 County Finals

Lady Taverners U15 County Finals

The final indoor schools competition of the season took place at Exeter University this week. The Lady Taverners U15 County Finals saw 7 schools descend on the home of Devon Cricket for a day of tough competition. In the closest event yet, run rate was the only thing separating 3 teams at the top of pool A. South Dartmoor College, Bideford College and Stoodley Knowle were neck and neck on 7 points after their 3 pool games. Okehampton found the going tough and ultimately fielding mistakes cost them the chance to continue in the event. Bideford scraped a 1 run win over Stoodley before suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of South Dartmoor. They in turn conceded over 100 in losing to Stoodley. The girls in the tartan skirts won the group on the back of their free run scoring, with the defending champions South Dartmoor finishing second. Bideford paid the price for one low scoring innings and hence dropped to third.

In the other group, Ivybridge College’s powerful bowling attack took 8 wickets in both of their matches against St Peters and Kings to secure the top spot. St Peters bounced back from a heavy defeat to keep wickets in hand to secure a 6 run victory over Kings which saw them grab the second semi-final berth.

After a picnic lunch in the spring sun, Bideford bowled and fielded well to restrict Kings to 56/4 in the 5^th/6^th place play off. They then batted nicely to pass the target comfortably.

In the first semi-final, Stoodley Knowle ran excellently between the wickets in setting the highest total of the day – 112/7. St Peters chased well in scoring more than they had in previous games but ultimately ended up 19 runs short on 93/8. Meanwhile on the adjacent pitch; Ivybridge scored a competitive 86/6. With the strength of their bowling the second innings was set up to be a tense affair. South Dartmoor batted and ran well in knocking the runs off with balls to spare.

So to the medal matches. Sadly for the spectators neither was particularly close. In both games the side batting first passed 100 runs and let the scoreboard pressure mount upon the chasing side. Ivybridge secured bronze from St Peters, with South Dartmoor successfully defending the title they won last year in reversing the result against Stoodley Knowle from the group stages. Good luck to South Dartmoor at the Regional Finals in Bristol next month.

Click here to see pictures from the day on our facebook page.

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